Does Car Insurance Cover My Engine?

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Does car insurance cover my engine?
How is my engine covered under my car insurance?
How much of my engine repair or replacement is covered under my car insurance?
How much do I have to pay if my car insurance doesn't fully cover my engine?
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Does car insurance cover my engine?

I was driving my car the other day and my engine started putting. It's been acting up for a while and I think it may need to be repaired or replaced. I was wondering if my car insurance will cover my engine? 

That's a great question! Your engine literally keeps your car running, so without it, you're in trouble. 

The only time your insurance would cover your engine is if the damage is not your fault, and it would fall under the "other than collision" coverage. This coverage, also known as comprehensive coverage, is for any damage that's done to your vehicle outside of a collision. This would include situations like vandalism, flooding, or other outside forces. 

However, even this policy has exclusions, so the incident that caused your engine to need repairing would have to not be excluded in your insurance policy. Of course you also have to have purchased other than collision coverage prior to the incident.

Most of the time, the things that happen to your engine are considered wear and tear. Wear and tear isn't covered under your auto policy.

The only other time your insurance would cover small damage to your engine is if it occurred during an accident. 

How is my engine covered under my car insurance? 

I recently had a complete check-up on my vehicle and the auto body company told me that my engine needs to be replaced. I've been told that insurance doesn't usually cover engine replacement but sometimes it might. This got me wondering, how is my engine covered under my insurance? 

Let's say you do have other than collision coverage, and your engine is damaged in an incident that is not excluded in your insurance. Then your insurance company will allow you to open a claim in order to repair or replace your engine. They'll decide if the total damage to the engine makes it worth fixing or repairing. If the cost of the engine repair is more than the value of the vehicle, they may choose to total your car. This isn't always a horrible thing, since you will get a check from your insurance company for the value of your vehicle. 

If they decide to fix your engine, they'll connect you with an approved body shop that can do the repairs and your policy will cover the cost of the repair, minus your deductible. 

How much of my engine repair or replacement is covered under my car insurance? 

I recently got some bad gas from a gas station. It's been determined that the gas has caused my engine to fail, and now I need to get it fixed. However, it's looking like I will need to go through my own insurance to get my engine replaced. I'm wondering how much of this replacement is going to be covered under my insurance? 

If it's been determined that your engine is repairable through your insurance policy, then they will cover the entire cost to repair the engine, minus your deductible.

Now, your deductible can be $500 or $2,500, depending on your auto policy. I would start by looking at what your deductible is to determine what your cost will be. 

Of course, if your engine repair will cost more than your car, then you will most likely want to look into replacing your car vs. paying for an engine that costs more than the value of your vehicle. 

How much do I have to pay if my car insurance doesn't fully cover my engine? 

I recently found out that I need to replace my engine. It's general wear and tear and I don't believe my insurance is going to pay for it. How much will I have to pay for my new engine if my insurance doesn't fully cover it? 

If your insurance determines that the damage to your engine is from general wear and tear, you'll be financially responsible for the full cost to replace your engine. The average cost to replace an engine on an average car is $3,000-$4,000. Of course, the more luxurious your car, the more expensive the engine.

If your engine does happen to be covered by your insurance, you're responsible for your deductible. 

If basic insurance doesn't cover my engine, what will? 

After recently having some engine issues, I learned that my basic auto policy will not cover my engine. I had to pay for the damage out of pocket. I don't want to get myself in this situation again, so if basic insurance won't cover my engine, I'm wondering what will? 

I don't blame you for wanting to have protection for your engine, and if you have the means to afford a higher car insurance premium, then you have options. With any insurance policy you can add engine protection coverage.

Engine protection coverage will cover your engine, including all of its parts -- pistons, spark plugs, valves, crankshafts, etc. 

Most major insurance companies also offer the option to add mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI). This add-on covers the cost of repairs needed for mechanical issues, including your engine. 

If you're considering adding one of these options to your insurance, I recommend talking with your independent insurance agent to weigh the pros and cons of these add-ons and see if they're right for you.